Saudi Arabia plans cap on expatriates

Companies hiring expatriate workers will be given five months after the implementation of the labour reforms programme to regularise their situation, Labour Minister Adel Al Faqih said.

The reforms will also help tackle the black market for employment visas to the rate of 99 per cent.

The ministry would go ahead with the programme and there would be no leniency in its application, Al Faqih said.  The reforms, he said, will boost employment opportunities for Saudis.